'Masked men dominating our streets': Anti-racism groups condemn Gosport protest amid migrant boat incident
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The campaigners said sexual violence is being used cynically to fuel racism
Anti-racism campaigners have shunned recent migrant protests amid an aborted boat landing in Gosport.
Women Against The Far-Right (WAFR) said concerns regarding sexual violence is being weaponised by cynical politicians and groups to fuel hatred. A large crowd of anti-migrant protesters arrived in Gosport Marina last night (September 22) after reports of a boat docking there.
Police made six arrests at the scene and are investigating footage of Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, slashing a migrant boat with a knife while at sea. The Press Association and other national news outlets reported that a number of people seen at the demonstration were men wearing black shirts, several with face coverings. They were seen chanting “send them back”.
“WAFR Portsmouth condemn the intimidation and violence of the far-right that have been mobilising in Portsmouth and along the south coast,” a statement said. “The last few weeks has seen groups of masked men dominating our streets and shoreline. It happened in Dover, in Eastney, and most recently in Gosport.
“In Portsmouth, Women Against The Far-Right are gathering to say that women, and all those who support us, are fed up with far-right activists using violence against us as a smokescreen for racism. The truth is that sexual violence is endemic across society and public services to support women and girls continue to be under funded. Danny Thomas and the far-right are not defenders of women, but opportunists using sexual violence to fuel Islamophobia and anti-migrant hostility.”
The group have organised a vigil at Guildhall Square on Wednesday, September 23, at 6pm in support of the RNLI. The charity temporarily closed its lifeboat station in Portsmouth in order to protect volunteers from online and physical abuse.
The boat containing 51 migrants landed in Dover in the early hours, after the vessel refused help from the French Coastguard and was at sea for more than 33 hours in an effort to reach Britain. British rescue boats were sent to collect passengers aboard the dinghy, and the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they would be transferred to Border Security Command.
Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative, said she was told by the Home Office that the arrival of a vessel in her constituency was likely. Demonstrators gathered at the town in protest, and a heavy police presence followed. Crowds dispersed at around 8.30pm after it was clear the vessel would not land in Hampshire. It arrived in Dover at 12.30am this morning.
Councillor George Madgwick, Leader of the Reform UK Group on Hampshire County Council, described the response as “power to the people”. He added in a social media statement: “There were so many people in attendance at Gosport and so much publicity that the Home Office have aborted the docking at Gosport of the illegal migrant boats.
“If that doesn’t prove what people power can truly do, when people come out in numbers, I don’t know what does. I’m so so impressed with the local community.”
Simon Magorian, of Stand Up to Racism, said the protests in Gosport were far from peaceful given the arrests made and that they attracted people with links to Danny Tommo’s Patriot Platform and other extremist organisations.
“We want no more of this nonsense,” he added. “This is the third time in the last couple of weeks we have had people bussed down here to protest.
“These people claim to be there to defend women and children; however, the men they attract frequently have a record of violence against women. We have had enough. Portsmouth is a proud multicultural city, and we intend to keep it that way.”